London, April 22 (BNA): Riyad Mahrez scored three goals to protect Manchester City’s bid for three titles.
The Algerian striker’s hat-trick in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Sheffield United advanced City to the FA Cup final, The Associated Press reported.
Having secured a place in the Champions League semi-finals this week, Pep Guardiola’s side took another step toward a treble with a routine win at Wembley. The FA Cup final will be in June against Manchester United or Brighton.
City could also dominate the Premier League title race against leaders Arsenal on Wednesday.
In City’s current mood, it’s hard to see anyone stopping the reigning champions from emulating Manchester United’s 1999 Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup treble.
Certainly not Second Division side Sheffield, whose chance of a historic FA Cup shock was effectively ended in the 43rd minute when Mahrez scored from the penalty spot after Daniel Gibson fouled Bernardo Silva in the penalty area.
Mahrez doubled City’s lead in the 61st minute when he ran straight through the Sheffield central defense and fired past Wes Foderingham.
The third came five minutes later when he turned back a Jack Grealish pass.
City were unbeaten in 16 games in all competitions and were not at their best on Saturday when top scorer Erling Haaland failed to score 48 goals this season in a poor performance.
insignificant